A Plate of Pendants

A new group of pendants 1.75".  The tin is attached to the brass backgrounds with tiny brass rivets.

Photography Evolution

When I first opened my Etsy shop, I photographed my tin jewelry on a piece of wood, hoping that it would make my product stand out.

After talking with a friend, I thought the background might be too rustic and not in keeping with the jewelry so I using a white corrugated box lid, which made the jewelry stand out and added a bit of texture to the background.

I used this for quite awhile.  The white background was easy to color correct for white.  I started to want a change so I introduced some objects into the photos. I started with an aluminum tray liking the metal cold.

I then tried a white china plate in combination with the tray.

I was mindful not to make the background too busy but to add interest to the jewelry. I tried a piece of hardware cloth.

I looked around the house for other objects I could add.  I found a vintage canning jar lid, once again liking the patina, age and color of the lid.

In the last month I have really tried to find other objects around the house to enhance these product shots.  This was a metal milk bottle carrier. 

I thought this ice chipper was such an interesting form it might be great for earrings.

These sticks, which were handles for lobster buoys and found on a Maine beach, have really worked out quite well and added a new dimension to the photos.  I love the patina on them.

The last photo is my ever growing arsenal of objects to use in the photographs. Who knows what I will find tomorrow?

New Earrings Design

Do you ever wake up and have a new design in your head?  That's what lead me to this design.

Textures

I have been playing this week with texturing the tin and creating new pieces of jewelry with the textures.  So I strike it from the backside and then sand the color off the raised areas.

Valentine's Day 2015

It is coming....and I found a great tin with hearts this year:

New Year- New Toys part 2

This is the next installment of new tools and materials for the new year.  After working for the holiday rush through out the fall and early winter, it is nice to have some new things to lure me back into the studio.  I found a source for vintage brass findings, plus, new wire for ear wires, a new riveting hammer, some polishing tools, new burs, and, of course, new tins!

You know where I'll be today.

Stop in and say hello but wear your coat: the heat source is a space heater.

New Year - New Toys

To start the new year out right, I treated myself to a few new things for my studio...not earth shattering new tools but a few things to help: a new bench block for riveting, new copper tubing for making rivets, some new drill bits and cup burrs for smoothing the ends of ear wires.